Ossification of the ligamentum flavum associated with osteoblastoma: a report of three cases |
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Authors: | Okuda S Myoui A Nakase T Wada E Yonenobu K Yoshikawa H |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (E3), Osaka University Medical School, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565–0871, Japan, JP |
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Abstract: | We report three cases of spinal osteoblastoma with ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) adjacent to the tumor. The
patients in this report, all young adults, had no symptoms except for back pain. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a typical
radiolucent nidus in the spinal pedicle/lamina with a dense sclerotic rim. In addition, ectopic bone formation at the insertion
point of the ligamentum flavum adjacent to the tumor was clearly illustrated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the
tumor and surrounding inflammatory responses, but OLF was not detected clearly. Histological examination revealed endochondral
ossification of the ligamentum flavum that is quite unusual for normal young adults. Immunohistochemical assays in one case
demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2/4 was expressed in the osteoblastic tumor cells. This case raises the
possibility that BMPs secreted from the tumor cells triggered ectopic ossification in the spinal ligament.
Received: 7 August 2000 Revision requested: 15 November 2000 Revision received: 15 December 2000 Accepted: 19 December 2000 |
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Keywords: | Osteoblastoma Osteoid osteoma Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) Ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) |
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